Victoria may be home to the provincial legislature, but one Powell River resident wants to make this community the province’s capital of wellness.
Ron Woznow, chair of Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation, presented the Powell River Wellness Initiative to councillors at the city’s committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, September 15. It is based on a pilot study that was done in Guelph, Ontario in 2009 with the support of local government and community groups.
Woznow said that while some people may have thought about improving their own wellness for years, a community challenge, like this one, may give people a push to participate.
“We’re not asking people to climb walls or run marathons,” he said. ”We want to keep it really simple.”
Woznow said that the plan is to open registration in January. More information about the challenge will be made available in November.
There are 72 wellness organizations in town Woznow has approached that are participating so far, and activities can be varied as yoga, lawn bowling, curling or cycling.
“They all can improve your wellness,” he said.
When participants register they go to one of these groups to have an initial check-in.
“It’s excellent timing from my experience in wellness world,” said Terry Cramb, owner of Nourish Yoga and Wellness Studio. “January is one of the biggest times, across the board. Everyone is making New Year’s resolutions. It’s that little trigger.”
Cramb added that this challenge might be the “little push people need. There’s strength and support in numbers.”
The goal of the initiative, according to Woznow, is to improve the region’s wellness by encouraging individuals to make incremental lifestyle changes and by measuring health indicators that include balance, flexibility, blood pressure and resting heart rate.
“Balance and flexibility are extremely important as you age,” said Woznow, particularly for seniors who are at greater risk for life-changing injury as they age.
After six months, participants are asked to return for a checkup on those four areas. Results will be measured and recorded, so comparisons can be made later.
Woznow said the challenge’s initial goal is to have Powell River recognized as a wellness capital of British Columbia.
Mayor Dave Formosa wrote in a letter to Woznow that he is pleased with the initiative that brings various Powell River health care and wellness sector organizations together.
“This would be of tremendous value to our community,” wrote Formosa, “and dovetails nicely with our 10-year vision for recreation and parks.”
